Fosston board adopts Minnesota Paid Leave policy, offers optional "topping off" to staff

The Fosston Public School District School Board voted to adopt a Minnesota Paid Leave Act implementation policy and to offer employees an optional "topping off" benefit that allows staff to make up the difference between state-paid leave and their full salary using district leave banks.

Board members moved and seconded the measure and approved it by voice vote. The policy uses the Minnesota School Boards Association template with district-specific language describing how the topping-off option will operate. Under the district plan, employees approved for Minnesota paid leave will receive whatever wage replacement the state provides; employees may elect to "top off" that amount by using accrued district leave (PTO, sick leave, or other applicable leave banks) to reach their full regular pay. The district noted topping off is optional and that using leave banks to top off will reduce those balances.

Supporters said the topping-off option preserves full pay for staff who choose it while preserving the state program as the baseline. Board members noted the practice is already in use in roughly half of nearby districts and that the teachers' union had expressed interest in topping-off during negotiations. The board did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript for this motion; the measure was adopted by voice vote.

The policy takes effect as the district implements Minnesota's paid-leave program and is intended to clarify administrative steps and employee choices; it does not change the statutory state benefit. The board discussed that exact payout percentages will depend on the state-determined benefit for each approved claim (examples ranged from roughly 50% to 70% of salary in the presentation).